Alexandria
Cairo
Travelers compare Alexandria and Cairo because they combine Egyptian history and the Mediterranean in two cities just 220 km apart.
Alexandria offers the Corniche, Qaitbay, and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina; Cairo concentrates the Pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, and the Islamic city with centuries-old minarets.The differences are stark: Alexandria has beaches like Stanley and Montaza, milder summer temperatures (average 28–31 °C), and excellent fish at fair prices; Cairo is hotter in summer (average 34–36 °C), has an efficient metro, bazaars like Khan el-Khalili, and world-class attractions with tickets between €3–15.
In this guide you’ll find precise daily budgets, visiting times for attractions, tips on transport from the airport, the best periods with temperatures, ideas for families, and how to combine the two cities in 4–7 days with costs and timings in € and hours.
Alexandria vs Cairo
| Feature | Alexandria | Cairo |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budget | In Alexandria a full budget starts at €35–50 (hostel €12–20, street-food meals €3–6, tram/uber €0.20–3).Mid-range: 3–4* hotels such as Semiramis Hotel or Cherry Maryski at €45–90, seafood restaurant like Fish Market €12–20, extras €8–12 (tickets).Luxury: Steigenberger Cecil €110–160 or Four Seasons San Stefano €250–400, gourmet dinner €35–60, car with driver €60–90/day. | In Cairo base budget €40–60 (hostel €12–25, meals €4–8 at Zooba or Koshary El Tahrir, metro €0.30).Mid-range: 3–4* hotels in Zamalek/Downtown €55–110, dinner €12–20 at Abou El Sid, taxi/uber €2–6, site tickets €3–15.Luxury: Marriott Mena House €180–260 or Four Seasons Nile Plaza €220–350, restaurants like Zitouni €35–60, private driver €70–100/day. |
| Top attractions | Top Alexandria: Bibliotheca Alexandrina (ticket €3–5, visit 1.5–2 hours), Qaitbay Citadel (€2–3, 60–90 min), Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa (€3–4, 60 min), Popey’s Pillar and Serapeum (€2–3, 45 min).Stroll along the Corniche (free, 1–2 hours) and Montaza Gardens (€1–2, 1–2 hours). | Top Cairo: Pyramids of Giza (plateau €12–15, 2–3 hours; Great Pyramid interior €18–22), Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square (€6–10, 2–3 hours), Saladin Citadel and Mosque of Muhammad Ali (€4–6, 1.5–2 hours), Khan el-Khalili (free, 1–2 hours).NMEC mummies galleries (€6–10, 1.5 hours).✓ Better |
| Food and restaurants | In Alexandria try grilled fish, sayadeya, and fish fatteh.Restaurants: Fish Market (Corniche, dishes €10–18), Greek Club – White and Blue (sea view, €12–22), Mohamed Ahmed for falafel/taameya and ful (€3–6).Street food: koshary €1.5–2.5.Historic café Délices (pastries €2–5). | In Cairo taste koshary, molokhia, fatta, and shawarma.Spots: Zooba (Modern Egyptian, dishes €3–7), Abou El Sid (Zamalek, mains €12–20), Koshary El Tahrir (€2–3), fine dining at Zitouni in the Four Seasons (€35–50).Sweets at El Abd (pastries €2–5). |
| Climate and best time | Alexandria has a Mediterranean climate: January 12–18 °C with light rain; April 18–24 °C; August 26–31 °C with a breeze; October 22–27 °C.Best: April–June and September–October for beaches and sightseeing.In peak summer, sea at 25–27 °C, pleasant evenings along the Corniche.✓ Better | Cairo is hotter and drier: January 12–20 °C; April 20–30 °C; August 27–36 °C with afternoon peaks; October 22–30 °C.Top period: October–April for sites like Giza and the Citadel.Avoid midday in summer; plan visits 7:30–10:30 and 16:00–18:30. |
| Transport and how to get there | Airport Borg El Arab (HBE) is 50 km from the center: taxi/uber €8–15, 45–70 min.In the city: tram (€0.15–0.25), microbuses €0.20–0.35, uber €1.5–4 for 3–8 km.Stations: Sidi Gaber and Misr for trains from Cairo (2.5–3 h, €3–6).Corniche traffic: plan an extra 15–25 min. | Airport CAI is 20–22 km from Tahrir: taxi/uber €6–12, 45–70 min.Metro Lines 1–3: rides €0.30–0.50, good for Downtown and Heliopolis; no direct metro to the Giza plateau.Uber €2–6 for 5–12 km trips.To Giza: by car 30–45 min from Tahrir, cost €6–10 round trip.✓ Better |
| Nightlife | In Alexandria nightlife is relaxed: historic bars like Spitfire Bar and Cap d’Or (€3–5 per drink, closing 23:00–00:30), rooftop Skyroof at the Windsor Palace Hotel (€4–7).Evening strolls along the Corniche and the Stanley area with cafés and gelaterias (€2–4).Less clubbing than in Cairo. | In Cairo choose Zamalek and Maadi: Cairo Jazz Club (Agouza, entry €5–8, drinks €4–7, closing 01:00–02:00), Nile-side bars like Sequoia (if operating) €6–10 per drink, lounges in Garden City.The Khan el-Khalili bazaar is pleasant until 22:00.More options and longer hours.✓ Better |
| For families with children | Alexandria is convenient for strollers along the Corniche, beaches like Maamoura and Montaza (shallow water).Qaitbay has open spaces (60–90 min).The Bibliotheca offers a planetarium (€3–4, 45 min).Short distances: 5–15 km between sites.Avoid rush hour 17:00–20:00 on the Corniche.✓ Better | In Cairo: Al-Azhar Park (gardens, €2–3, 60–90 min), Pharaonic Village (Giza, €7–10, 2 hours), KidZania at Cairo Festival City (€8–12, 2–3 hours).Longer transfers: up to 12–15 km between sites.Use uber with a child seat or plan the metro to avoid traffic. |
| Beaches and nature | Alexandria: Stanley Beach 5 km from the Bibliotheca, Montaza Beach 15 km, Maamoura 17 km.Lounger rental €3–6, cabana €8–12.Urban nature: Montaza Gardens and parks along the Corniche.Sea ideal from May to October.✓ Better | Cairo has no beaches; for the sea: Ain Sokhna at 120 km (1.5–2 h, car €60–90 round trip).Nature: Wadi Degla 20 km from Maadi (€1–2 entry), trips to Fayoum (100–110 km, 2 h, driver €70–100).More desert; less Mediterranean. |
| Shopping | In Alexandria: Souq El Attarin (antiques, spices €1–3/100g), Zanket El-Settat (textiles), San Stefano Grand Plaza and City Centre Alexandria for brands.Typical purchases: olive oil, sweets from Délices (€2–5), maritime crafts.Bargain 10–20% in souqs. | In Cairo: Khan el-Khalili (papyrus €5–20, alabaster €10–30), Mall of Egypt and City Stars for modern shopping.In Zamalek design boutiques (€20–60).Harder bargaining: start at 40–50% of the asking price and close at 60–70%.✓ Better |
| Safety and practical tips | In Alexandria beware of taxis without meters along the Corniche: use uber.Scams: inflated prices in souqs; pay in EGP.Emergencies: 122 police, 123 ambulance, 180 firefighters.Avoid crowded beaches during mid-August (Ferragosto); keep your phone secure in front-worn backpacks. | In Cairo beware of fake guides at Giza: enter only with an official ticket (€12–22).Use uber and the metro to avoid traffic.Common scams: non-authentic “papyrus” shops; check for stamps.Emergencies: 122 police, 123 ambulance.Avoid dark streets after 23:00 in outlying districts. |
| How many days you need | Alexandria: minimum 1.5–2 days for the Bibliotheca, Qaitbay, Corniche.Ideal 3 days including Kom el-Shoqafa, Montaza, and beach relaxation.Itinerary: day 1 downtown (8–10 km), day 2 Roman sites and the Citadel, day 3 beaches 15–17 km from the center. | Cairo: minimum 3 days for Giza, the Egyptian Museum, the Citadel.Ideal 4–5 days including the NMEC, Coptic Cairo, and Khan el-Khalili.Itinerary: Giza (2–3 h), Tahrir + Downtown (3–4 h), Islamic Cairo (3 h), extra Fayoum (2 h round trip).✓ Better |
| How to combine the two cities | From Alexandria to Cairo: ENR trains from Sidi Gaber/Misr, 2.5–3 h, 1st class €4–6, 2nd €3–4.Go Bus coaches 3–3.5 h, €4–7.Leave in the morning at 08:00 to arrive by 11:00 and visit Tahrir in the afternoon. | From Cairo to Alexandria: same route; recommended fast Superjet or afternoon ENR train 15:00 arriving 18:00.Taxi station–hotel €2–4.In summer, choose an AC carriage.Book 48 h in advance on weekends. |
The Verdict
Choose Alexandria
Choose Alexandria if you want a city break with the sea, Greco-Roman history, and seafood.Recommended period: April–June or September with averages of 22–28 °C.Ideal budget €70–110/day (4* hotel, seafood restaurants, Uber).Itinerary: day 1 Bibliotheca + Corniche (8 km), day 2 Qaitbay + Kom el-Shoqafa (6–10 km), day 3 Montaza + Maamoura.Evenings at Spitfire and gelato at Délices.
Choose Cairo
Choose Cairo if you’re after the Pyramids, major museums, and neighborhoods like Zamalek.Recommended period: October–April with highs of 20–28 °C.Ideal budget €80–140/day (4* hotel, site tickets, Uber/metro).Itinerary: day 1 Giza, day 2 Egyptian Museum + Downtown, day 3 Islamic Cairo + the Citadel, day 4 NMEC or Coptic Cairo.Evening at the Cairo Jazz Club or along the Nile.